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The two championship fights were very similar as object lessons. In both cases you had younger, newer fighters who were easily smashing their way to a title fight against experienced, technically sound champions.
Both fights were great unknowns because the challengers came in having dispatched all their previous competition in somewhat dominating fashion.
Ngannou was so strong and athletic that he was blasting everyone out. Oezdemir was able to physically overpower pretty much everyone he fought, as well.
The question was would they be able to physically overmatch the champs? If not, how would they be able to adjust to that, having never really been tested like that before? Having to learn that, for the first time in a championship fight is probably not where you want to get those kinks worked out.
Oezdemir was able to stop Corimer's takedown attempts with that strength, early on, but he was calling on that strength to fend off Corimer, not to take the fight to him. You could see on his face, between rounds, that he was a bit shocked by the fact that he couldn't bully Corimer. Since he was using his strength to respond, not dictate, Corimer was able to put together punches while he was in, trying to get a hold for the takedown. And, eventually, he did. Corimer had a comprehensive strategy putting together many aspects of his overall game, and won easily.
Ngannou came out and was clearly overwhelmed by the moment. He was loading up and swinging for the fences, telegraphing those shots to the point where Stipe was making him miss by huge margins, or he was able to easily slip and return fire. What worked for Ngannou was when he was just reacting, with the counter inside uppercuts. A fighter who had been tested would have quickly adjusted and would have moved into more of a counter-punching mode, as well as putting together punches that were quicker and not loaded up on. With his natural power and athleticism, he doesn't have to hit someone full force to mess them up, and someone, anyone getting hit with a fast second or third punch of a combination of his at 70% would be in a world of trouble.
But he kept swinging for the fences, the whole round. It was clear that he adrenaline dumped and it hit him between the first and second rounds, in addition to wasting so much energy swinging so wildly. When he stood up, for the second, you knew the fight was over for him. If it were not for being physically attached at the shoulder joints, his arms would have dropped to the floor of the Octagon.
Stipe, in addition to easily avoiding the over-loaded hay-makers fought smart. Even when he couldn't do much with a takedown, he'd make sure to grind down, hard, and make Ngannou's already spent arms have to work that much harder carrying that additional weight. He never moved into full mount, where Ngannou could use his hips and whole body to potentially shuck the champ off. Stipe stuck, mostly, to side mount and top-side mount, where Ngannou would have to use his arms and upper body to bear that weight, again.
This doesn't mean that the challengers were frauds, but they were certainly victims of their own success. They won so easily on the way up, they never had the experience of being truly tested, and that inexperienced showed on the big stage. Now we'll see if getting that experience makes them much better fighters, or if they are physical freaks, but not truly elite fighters.
Both fights were great unknowns because the challengers came in having dispatched all their previous competition in somewhat dominating fashion.
Ngannou was so strong and athletic that he was blasting everyone out. Oezdemir was able to physically overpower pretty much everyone he fought, as well.
The question was would they be able to physically overmatch the champs? If not, how would they be able to adjust to that, having never really been tested like that before? Having to learn that, for the first time in a championship fight is probably not where you want to get those kinks worked out.
Oezdemir was able to stop Corimer's takedown attempts with that strength, early on, but he was calling on that strength to fend off Corimer, not to take the fight to him. You could see on his face, between rounds, that he was a bit shocked by the fact that he couldn't bully Corimer. Since he was using his strength to respond, not dictate, Corimer was able to put together punches while he was in, trying to get a hold for the takedown. And, eventually, he did. Corimer had a comprehensive strategy putting together many aspects of his overall game, and won easily.
Ngannou came out and was clearly overwhelmed by the moment. He was loading up and swinging for the fences, telegraphing those shots to the point where Stipe was making him miss by huge margins, or he was able to easily slip and return fire. What worked for Ngannou was when he was just reacting, with the counter inside uppercuts. A fighter who had been tested would have quickly adjusted and would have moved into more of a counter-punching mode, as well as putting together punches that were quicker and not loaded up on. With his natural power and athleticism, he doesn't have to hit someone full force to mess them up, and someone, anyone getting hit with a fast second or third punch of a combination of his at 70% would be in a world of trouble.
But he kept swinging for the fences, the whole round. It was clear that he adrenaline dumped and it hit him between the first and second rounds, in addition to wasting so much energy swinging so wildly. When he stood up, for the second, you knew the fight was over for him. If it were not for being physically attached at the shoulder joints, his arms would have dropped to the floor of the Octagon.
Stipe, in addition to easily avoiding the over-loaded hay-makers fought smart. Even when he couldn't do much with a takedown, he'd make sure to grind down, hard, and make Ngannou's already spent arms have to work that much harder carrying that additional weight. He never moved into full mount, where Ngannou could use his hips and whole body to potentially shuck the champ off. Stipe stuck, mostly, to side mount and top-side mount, where Ngannou would have to use his arms and upper body to bear that weight, again.
This doesn't mean that the challengers were frauds, but they were certainly victims of their own success. They won so easily on the way up, they never had the experience of being truly tested, and that inexperienced showed on the big stage. Now we'll see if getting that experience makes them much better fighters, or if they are physical freaks, but not truly elite fighters.
